can only spend 3 days in Rome? In this article you will find the main things you have to see and do in the Italian capital to make the most time in the Eternal City.
Practical Tips for Exploring Rome in 3 Days
To make your trip to Rome in a couple of days bring you only positive emotions, follow our advice:
- Booking tickets for events in Rome online can help you save a lot of time. In addition, every month on the last Sunday you are allowed to visit museums for free. This bonus is used by tourists regardless of the budget of the trip.
- To move within the Italian capital, it is best to use public transportation. The optimal option is the subway. The idea of seeing Rome in a couple of days by car should be abandoned. It is all about parking problems, dense traffic and segments with limited traffic in the most interesting places for guests of the city.
- Seeing Rome in a couple of days, you will have to spend a lot of time walking. The more comfortable your clothes and shoes are, the easier it is to move from object to object.
- When choosing a hotel, it is recommended to pay attention to the options in the central part of the Eternal City. The list of the best is presented here.
- In the midst of the tour there is nothing shameful in drinking water from the fountain in Rome – it meets sanitary requirements. However, it is better to have a small snack and your favorite drink, because tourist Rome is famous for high prices.
Day 1: Vatican City, Hadrian’s Mausoleum, Piazza Navona and Campo dei Fiori
Vatican City
The Vatican is ready to welcome guests every day, and there is no charge for a visit.
St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest in Italy, deserves special attention in Rome. It is one of the most popular ideas for souvenirs.
There is no need to take a ticket to visit the cathedral, they let you in until 7pm. At noon on Sunday, visitors can see the pontiff.
The Vatican Museums are available any day of the week, except Sunday, until 6pm. A standard ticket costs from 26 €, with only 17 € for privileged visitors.
Your trip should definitely include a visit to the Pinacoteca di Brera and the Sistine Chapel, where the works of outstanding Italian painters are collected. Those who want to learn the details of the Vatican’s structure from professionals will enjoy a special tour.
You can find the itinerary and purchase tickets here.
Hadrian’s Mausoleum
Rome in 3 days cannot be imagined without a visit to the Castel Sant’Angelo. Its doors are open until 19.30. A regular ticket costs 17.5€, a discount ticket is cheaper (6.5€), a child ticket costs 3.5€. You can buy tickets at the link.
The site was built in the 2nd century AD as the burial mausoleum of Emperor Hadrian. Roman emperors and those close to them still rest here.
The name of the Castle of St. Angelus was given during the spread of the plague. Pope Gregory I had a vision of the Archangel Michael appearing at the mausoleum with a shrouded sword. This was interpreted as the proximity of victory over the epidemic.
In the Capitoline Museums, you can find a stone that is popularly believed to have the footprint of the Angel. Visiting the castle is not only a pleasant but also a rewarding endeavor. It closely intertwines the history and culture of Rome.
Piazza Navona
The next stage of express exploring Rome in 3 days is to go to Piazza Navona. There is an option to use the metro, but it is better to walk to it by passing through the Bridge of St. Angel.
What to see:
- Previously, the square was the site of Domitian’s majestic stadium, which could hold up to thirty thousand people. Domitiana was adorned with statues, one of which (the statue of Pasquino) is still in Piazza Navona.
- It is complemented by the Fountain of the Four Rivers and Baroque buildings.
- The square is a place where portraitists and street artists congregate, so the activity here does not diminish even after dark.
- Nearby is Piazza Sant’Eustachio, with a wonderful coffee shop famous throughout Italy.
To see the best hotels in the area, check out Booking.com.
Campo dei Fiori
The perfect end to the first part of your Rome exploration tour is Campo dei Fiori in the center of the city. It is located halfway between Piazza Navona and Palazzo Farnese, so it is not a tiring walk.
The attraction is named after the flowering meadow that was here until the end of the 14th century. Then horse fairs were held there, but the Roman authorities decided to use the area for the execution of judicial sentences.
Those interested in the history of science should remember that it was in Piazza Navona that Giordano Bruno was burned. A monument made of bronze serves as a reminder of this. The Campo dei Fiori is completely devoid of churches in Rome.
Day 2: the Colosseum, Vittoriano and Capitoline Hill
The next day should start with a visit to the main symbol of the city – the Colosseum.
The Colosseum and its Ancient Splendor
It is available every day until 17.30. A standard ticket costs 23.5€. Children can enter without purchasing a ticket. Reservations to join a guided tour of the Colosseum are available by clicking here. Next to the site is the Arco di Costantino. A walk to the Forum, which is a whole complex of ancient buildings, will take a little time.
Vittoriano in Piazza Venezia
After seeing the Colosseum, it is recommended to stop by Piazza Venezia. The Vittoriano Monument is a must on the “Rome in 3 Days” tour. It was created in honor of the first king of united Italy.
Capitol Hill
The best way to end the second day is with the Capitol. It can be reached from Piazza Araceli by means of a staircase created by the legendary Michelangelo. It is home to the Capitoline Museums, the oldest complex in the world. A ticket costs 11 €, with a discounted ticket slightly cheaper. You can get inside any day of the week no later than 19.30. There are only 3 days off a year: 31.12-01.01, as well as 1.05.
Day 3: Piazza di Spagna, Trevi Fountain and Pantheon
Piazza di Spagna
It is recommended to start the final stage of the program with a visit to the Plaza de España:
- in its center is the Barcaccia Fountain
- on the right, the Keats and Shelley House Museum attracts attention
- on the left is the Babington Tea Room.
The Trinita dei Monti staircase, consisting of more than a hundred steps, has made Piazza España very popular. The beautiful architectural composition and the combination of delicate colors are additional benefits.
The Trevi Fountain
The Trevi Fountain is considered by Italian filmmakers to be the ideal setting for romantic scenes. Its special shell shape attracts many travelers.
Trevi Fountain is one of the additional sources of budget replenishment, as the guests of the city are sure to throw coins into it.
Next to the object is Via Condotti, famous for its excellent shopping opportunities without borders.
Pantheon – the Temple of All Gods
The journey should end with the Pantheon. From the previous landmark, it is easily reached via Via del Corso.
The largest dome is the most famous architectural feature of the Pantheon.
It conveys the full power of Roman civilization at the dawn of our era.
Want to visit the Pantheon in Rome? Follow the link to the official ticket platform to buy tickets to visit it with an audio guide and avoid queues at the entrance.
In addition to self-guided trips, you can choose to tour the sites presented in the last part of the Rome in 3 Days program.
It is unrealistic to know all the highlights of Rome in 72 hours. However, a quick tour will give you an idea of what the great city is like now.
